Capitalize On 'This Minus That'

On-air challenge: Every answer is the name of a state capital, to be identified from its anagram. For example, given "banally" minus the letter L, the answer would be "Albany."

Last week's challenge from the Emmy-winning TV comedy writer Mike Reiss: A famous actress and a famous director share the same last name, although they are unrelated. The first name of one of these is a classic musical. The first name of the other is an anagram of a classic musical. Who are they?

Answer: Oliver and Emma Stone (Oliver!, Mame)

Winner: Aaron Haberman of Longmont, Colo.

Next week's challenge: There is a politician today, sometimes known by his or her full three-word name, whose initials are also the initials of a popular chain of restaurants. Who is the politician and what's the restaurant?

If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursdayat 3 p.m. ET.

Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Transcript

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Rachel Martin. Can you rub your stomach and pat your head at the same time? Then this should be no problem. It's time to play the puzzle.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

MARTIN: Joining me now is Will Shortz. He is, of course, the puzzle editor of the New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's puzzle-master. Hey there, Will. Good morning.

WILL SHORTZ, BYLINE: Good morning, Rachel.

MARTIN: So, refresh our memories, what was last week's challenge?

SHORTZ: Yes. It came from the Emmy-winning TV comedy writer Mike Reiss. I said take a famous actress and a famous director. And I said they share the same last name, although they're unrelated. The first name of one of these is a classic musical and the first name of the other is an anagram of a classic musical. Who are they? Oliver and Emma Stone. "Oliver," of course, is a musical and Emma rearranges to make "Mame," another classic musical.

MARTIN: OK. So, we received more than a thousand correct answers, and our randomly selected winner is Aaron Haberman of Longmont, Colorado. He joins us on the line. Hey, Aaron, congratulations.

AARON HABERMAN: Thank you very much.

MARTIN: Did this come pretty quickly to you? Did it take you a long time?

HABERMAN: It came pretty quickly. My wife and I actually work on these every Sunday. We listen to you guys. And my wife came up with Oliver Stone. And initially we thought maybe Sharon Stone, and that didn't anagram to anything, and then I remembered Emma Stone is an actress and my wife came up with "Mame" and there it was.

MARTIN: There you go. So, you and your wife big fans of musicals?

HABERMAN: We are, yeah.

MARTIN: OK. That came in handy. And what do you do for a living in Longmont?

HABERMAN: I am a history professor at the University of Northern Colorado up in Greeley.

MARTIN: That sounds like a pretty place, Greeley, Colorado.

HABERMAN: Yeah, it's beautiful. Nice views of the Rocky Mountains.

MARTIN: Lovely. OK. Well, Will Shortz is here to entertain any pressing questions you might have. Do you have a question for Will?

HABERMAN: I was wondering what was the reaction of your professors and classmates - even your family? Do they think this is the coolest thing ever or they think you're totally crazy for pursuing that degree?

SHORTZ: A little of both, yes. So, I went to Indiana University, and my major, enigmatology, I made up all my classes. My mom was a writer and a creative sort, so she liked the idea. My dad was more traditional. He wasn't so wild about the idea. But it all worked out.

MARTIN: It all worked out.

HABERMAN: Yeah, absolutely.

MARTIN: OK. Aaron, so you ready to play the puzzle?

HABERMAN: I am.

MARTIN: All right. Will, let's do it.

SHORTZ: All right, Aaron and Rachel. It's a straightforward puzzle today. Every answer is the name of a state capital to be identified from its anagram. For example, if I said banally B-A-N-A-L-L-Y, minus L, you would rearrange those letters to spell Albany.

MARTIN: OK. You got it, Aaron?

HABERMAN: I think so.

MARTIN: OK.

SHORTZ: Number one is camels C-A-M-E-L-S, minus C.

HABERMAN: Salem.

SHORTZ: Salem, Oregon is right. Number two is so be it S-O-B-E-I-T, minus T.

HABERMAN: Boise.

SHORTZ: Boise, Idaho. Vendor V-E-N-D-O-R, minus N.

HABERMAN: Dover.

SHORTZ: Dover is correct. Tsunami T-S-U-N-A-M-I, minus M.

HABERMAN: Austin.

SHORTZ: That's right - Texas. They're getting longer now - palimony P-A-L-I-M-O-N-Y, minus N. This is a state in the Northwest.

HABERMAN: Oh, Olympia.

SHORTZ: Olympia, Washington - good. Snarling S-N-A-R-L-I-N-G, minus R. What if I tell you it starts with L?

HABERMAN: Charleston. I grew up in West Virginia, so I should know that.

(LAUGHTER)

SHORTZ: Charleston, West Virginia is correct. Good job.

MARTIN: I was not a lot of help today. Aaron, great job though...

HABERMAN: Oh, thank you.

MARTIN: ...despite my poor effort. And For playing our puzzle today, you get a WEEKEND EDITION lapel pin and puzzle books and games. You can read all about it at npr.org/puzzle. And before we let you go, Aaron, what is your public radio station?

HABERMAN: I am a sustaining member of KUNC out of Greeley, Colorado.

MARTIN: Great, sustaining member even - love to hear it. Aaron Haberman, of Longmont, Colorado, thanks so much for playing the puzzle, Aaron.

HABERMAN: Thank you very much.

MARTIN: OK, Will. What's up for next week?

SHORTZ: Yes, there is a politician today, sometimes known by his or her full three-word name, whose initials are also the initials of a popular chain of restaurants. Who is the politician and what's the restaurant?

MARTIN: Hmm.

SHORTZ: So again, a politician today, a three-word name, the initials are also the initials of a popular chain of restaurants. Who's the politician and what's the restaurant?

MARTIN: All right, you know what to do. When you've got the answer, go to our website, npr.org/puzzle and click on that Submit Your Answer link. Just one entry per person, please, and our deadline for entries is Thursday, November 14th at 3 P.M. Eastern Time.

Please include a phone number where we can reach you at about that time, because if you're the winner we'll give you a call. And you will get to play on the air with the puzzle editor of The New York Times. And he is WEEKEND EDITION's puzzle-master, Will Shortz.